Another Elliott at the fore

Tuesday

Jan 7, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Big news made official Monday has Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR icon Bill Elliott, joining JR Motorsports for the full 2014 Nationwide Series and beyond.

ben white

Big news made official Monday has Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR icon Bill Elliott, joining JR Motorsports for the full 2014 Nationwide Series and beyond. Sponsorship is being provided by NAPA Auto Parts, as they return to NASCAR for a multi-year deal after dropping Michael Waltrip Racing as a result of the spin and position scandal in the Cup race at Richmond International Raceway last September. Elliott, a native of Dawsonville, Georgia, won his first NASCAR K & N Pro Series race at Iowa Speedway in 2012. He became the youngest winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada in 2013. During Monday's announcement and teleconference, the 18-year old rising star was obviously very excited to drive Chevrolet Camaros for Earnhardt Jr. in 2014."Obviously it means the world to me. I'm really looking forward to this year," Elliott said. "I feel like it's the opportunity of a lifetime. As I've told a lot of people now, it's my chance to do what I love to do. I just want to try to make the most of it, and I feel like everything is where it needs to be for us to have success."Fans and even a few media members have touted Elliott as a possible replacement for Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports when the four-time champion someday retires. Elliott isn't ready to follow that line of thinking just yet but appreciates the opportunity his father and team owner Rick Hendrick has given him. One fact is clear; he is being groomed for bigger and better things. "Well, I'd say this is 2014. There's really no need jumping that far ahead at this point right now," Elliott said. "I have a lot of growing to do in my career as a driver and as a person to compete at a level like that. I feel like the Nationwide Series is a good step for me to do. I feel like personally as a driver and on and off the racetrack, I'm capable of going and getting the job done if I can do things to the best of my ability." Elliott is quite grounded when it comes to the Elliott family legacy that Bill and brothers Dan and Ernie Elliott built decades ago. That includes the 1988 Cup championship, 34 of Bill's 44-career wins and becoming the first driver and team to win the prestigious Winston Million bonus in 1985 at Darlington Raceway. Chase is very proud of the heritage but wants to write his own chapter in NASCAR. "It's easy to look at everybody and listen to what everybody says and get caught up in that, but for me I try to look past it," Elliott said. "I don't really foresee any more pressure on me than there's ever been. I try to just focus on the task at hand and try to get the job done. I don't plan on getting caught up in that and just go out there and try to do my job and do it the best I can."Fans have already picked up on an Elliott once again wheeling the No. 9, a number made famous by the Georgia family of racers. "As far as the number goes, of course that's a very meaningful number, really to me and my family, too," Elliott said. "I've been the No. 9 car in pretty much anything I've ever driven except for the couple times it's been taken and I ran 94 in the Truck Series, which 94 is also a very memorable, meaningful number for the Elliott family, as well. The No. 9 for me, that kind of all started, obviously the '80s for my dad was a little before my time, but the 2001, 2002 Evernham days is kind of where I gained my liking for the No. 9, and that's kind of why I've always stuck with it." Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports and sister to Dale Jr., feels the addition of Elliott to their multi-car operation will add strength and another chance for a title run. Regan Smith will also drive the No. 7 Chevrolets for the full 33-race Nationwide Series schedule in hopes of winning the championship. Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolets in Cup this season, will drive the No. 5 Jr. Motorsports Chevrolets in 16 races. "We're really excited to be partnered with Chase," Earnhardt Miller said. "You know, it adds another opportunity for us to contend for the Nationwide title as we see it. We have Regan Smith in the 7 car battling, and Chase, as well, in a full-time effort. Just really makes the lineup for JR Motorsports the strongest we've probably been in our — the strongest lineup we've had in the Nationwide Series so we can compete for wins each week."Ben White is a motorsports columnist for The Dispatch.